Oppressive news. Oppressive heat wave. August’s end was not kind.
In hopes of lifting the oppressive cloud in my head, with Tippy (dog) and Tom (cat), I took an early morning stroll around the perimeter of Bonnell Park. At 6:30 a.m., it was already hot and humid. It would get worse. As we regained the street, I looked up, stopped, and stared.
The canvas banner hanging on a neighbor’s fence declared in loud, colorful, hand-painted letters: “Kindness is Everything.” In that moment, dark thoughts dissipated. I may even have smiled. As if that weren’t enough, the day’s end would put an exclamation point on the message when I went to the grocery store to pick up a few necessities (like ice cream).
Standing in the socially distanced line, I noticed that the elderly woman checking out was flustered, fumbling in her purse. Her credit cards had been declined. She had no cash, could she write a check. Without waiting another second, a young man behind her quietly said to the checker, “I’ll pay for it.” The woman tried to protest but instead, burst into tears. “Just have a great day,” he said, smiling. Talk about little ripples changing people’s lives…the whole day was a lesson in kindness.
